"Fine, the boss is angry, and Huangfu Xu dared not mess around anymore!
He said, 'Eldest sister-in-law is good at doing business. Why not build a few more workshops and specialize in some unique products? Then it would be perfect to sell them to the vassal states. This way, the labor shortage will be solved, and we'll make money too. What do you think!'
'As for this specialty... Eldest sister-in-law needs to think about it!'
Huangfu Xu's suggestion was indeed very good. Zhao Jiaqi felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her train of thought suddenly opened up!
Although the workshops in Phoenix Mountain were not under her name, she was still the behind-the-scenes boss. Due to the war and drought, they had already stopped working. Now there was a shortage of sausages, preserved meats, and dried meats. If she were to build a few workshops in Xiangyang and Jinzhou... this was a good idea!
'Your suggestion is excellent. Tonight, I'll reward you with a pot of five-year-old brewed wine!' Zhao Jiaqi was so happy that she rewarded him with a pot!
Upon hearing it was five years old, Huangfu Xu was overjoyed. He grinned from ear to ear!
'Eldest sister-in-law, leave this task to me. From building workshops to raising pigs and processing sausages, you don't need to worry about anything. I guarantee that the task will be completed within half a month!'
Zhao Jiaqi's mouth twitched slightly. The charm of a pot of wine was not to be underestimated!
It could even motivate the lazy Prince Xiaoyao to work, which was an unexpected gain!
Huangfu Xian felt that his brother, Prince Xiaoyao, was losing face, selling himself for a pot of wine!
Alas, it seemed his reputation was in jeopardy!
The general direction was set, but there were still details to be discussed carefully. Several people discussed in the separate villa for several days, and also invited Hu Yue, the prefect of Jinzhou, to make a plan based on the situation of the entire Jinzhou Prefecture.
In each prefecture under the jurisdiction of Jinzhou city, a workshop would be built, and each workshop would be different. From food to cloth dolls and toys, these workshops almost covered all aspects of people's livelihoods!
After Jinzhou surrendered, Jianjiang Prefecture, which was adjacent to Jinzhou city, followed Hu Yue's example and surrendered for the sake of the city's common people and their own lives!
With this idea in mind, they immediately took action. Through their friend Hu Yue as a matchmaker, they also contacted Fan Zehao!
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi smiled calmly, 'It's the same effort to herd one sheep or two. Who knows, perhaps we'll have a 'three-yang-kaitai' (a prosperous period) later on!'
Fan Zehao was now a bit troubled. Saving people was a good thing, but if they continued to save them like this, other prefectures might follow suit. This would undoubtedly mean more work for him!
'Wife, this won't do. We can't accept every city that seeks refuge with us. If we develop like this, won't we be more than just local emperors? Perhaps the Yun Kingdom will end up coming back to us through a roundabout way!'
That would go against their original intentions!
If it was going to be such a convoluted path, why did he step down himself in the first place? He might as well have remained an emperor.
Zhao Jiaqi also felt helpless, 'Are you just going to watch those suffering common people struggle on the brink of death without extending a hand to help?'
He shook his head; he couldn't stand by and do nothing!
'Therefore, there is still a way to solve the predicament of the Yun Kingdom!' Zhao Jiaqi pondered deeply and offered a suggestion!
Fan Zehao's eyes widened in surprise, 'Oh? Tell me, if it can be solved, that would be best!'
'You come forward and invite the leaders of the major kingdoms. Use your birthday as an excuse. I think those vassal states will give you some face!'
His wife's words enlightened him!
'You mean, when they come, I'll mediate their wars between these kingdoms?'
Isn't this what people in the village call a peacemaker?
If this could stop the fighting and bring about a truce, it would be great. However, Fan Zehao didn't believe that his words as a peacemaker would be effective, and he also knew that his influence wasn't that great.
However, it might be possible to prevent their wars from continuing and to achieve a ceasefire for a period of time!
'I'll listen to you. I'll have Song Bo write letters and send them to the various vassal states. Whether it succeeds or not, we have to try!'
Seeing her husband rushing off in such a hurry, Zhao Jiaqi was afraid he would forget the important matters to be mentioned in the letter, so she quickly called out to him, 'When writing the letters, pay attention to the phrasing regarding stopping the fighting.'
'Got it!'
Fan Zehao's voice echoed from afar.
The dark colored official letters, personally polished by Song Xin, were sent to the various vassal states.
At the same time, Prince Xiaoyao led the local laborers of Jinzhou city to start building workshops!
But building them one by one was a waste of time. So, Huangfu Xu sent out all his subordinates, with one person supervising each prefecture, to start full-scale construction.
While things were bustling here, both the local residents and the refugees in the city were disciplined and working in an orderly manner!
The sky did not cooperate, and rain began to pour down!
Everyone paused their work, waiting for the light rain to stop before continuing. However, they did not expect the rain to become heavier and heavier, with thunder rumbling intermittently!
Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi murmured to herself, 'Rain first, then thunder, means a heavy shower. It looks like this rain won't be light today!'
Su Ya, who was serving her, didn't quite understand, 'Madam, why isn't it thunder first and then rain? How can you be so sure the rain will be heavy?'
She chuckled. How could she explain this?
'This is a proverb, old sayings passed down by our ancestors based on their experience. As for whether it's true, you can observe and see if what the ancestors said is true!'
Su Ya, not fully understanding, looked at the sky with her madam. The rain did not stop, but rather the raindrops became bigger and more rapid!
At this point, she felt her madam was amazing. She understood and knew everything, far surpassing those young ladies from noble families and honorable wives!
She could manage in the hall and the kitchen, read the sky, and handle ruffians. With Madam around, all those ghosts and demons would have to retreat!
By evening, the rain had not stopped. Jinzhou and Jianjiang cities, which had not seen rain for a long time, were delighted by this heavy rainfall and were even out in the rain!
This made the people of both cities extremely worshipful of Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi, saying that these two were reincarnated immortals who could bring them rain and wind under their protection!
This saying quickly spread among the people. Some even planned to carve statues of the couple and build a temple to worship them, offering incense twice a day once the rain stopped!
At that time, in the Imperial Palace of the capital.
News of Jianjiang Prefecture also surrendering to Fan Zehao, and then a heavy rain falling, along with the local people's praise, reached Huangfu Xi's ears!
However, such praise sounded different to Huangfu Xi. He felt that those people were mocking him for not being worthy of being emperor, and that he himself was the disaster.
He had brought disaster to the Yun Kingdom instead of hope. He scanned the silent ministers in the hall, further solidifying his thoughts!
Pfft!
He spat out a mouthful of blood and his eyes rolled back as he fainted on the dragon throne!"